World leaders react to Chavez death

Wednesday, March 06, 2013 - 01:34

March 6 - Leaders from various Latin American countries react to the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Julie Noce reports.

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Leaders of South America expressed their condolences to the people of Venezuela over the death of Hugo Chavez.
From Brazil to Chile to Peru... leaders, some of whom may not have always agreed with Chavez's firebrand form of socialism, offered their sympathies.
(SOUNDBITE)(Portuguese) BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT DILMA ROUSSEFF, SAYING:
"On many occasions the Brazilian government did not completely agree with President Hugo Chavez, but today, as always, we must recognize that he was a great leader."
One of his closest allies, Bolivian president Evo Morales, took the condolences one step further.
Morales, a reknown socialist who considers Chavez a mentor, said capitalist countries are likely celebrating Chavez's death.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT EVO MORALES, SAYING:
"The imperialist oligarchies are surely celebrating, surely happy, when the people who fight for their liberty, who fight for their dignity through unity and working for equality are those who suffer most."
Chavez's death opens the way for a new election that will test whether his socialist government continues.
Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro, Chavez's preferred successor, will likely run against centerist opposition leader Henrique Capriles in the upcoming vote, set to happen within 30 days.

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